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Physics involves understanding how the physical world works and the models used to explain it all. It has a huge impact on our world and in knowing how it works from the microscopic level of electrical devices, particle and atomic physics through actions and phenomena on the human scale to the very large scale of stellar physics and cosmology.
Physics is therefore a complex and diverse discipline, which makes it an interesting and worthwhile subject to study for its own right but also opens up a huge range of possible career opportunities. However, you will soon become aware of the links and common threads between apparently diverse phenomena, in particular the common mathematical themes and ideas underlying the subject. Our emphasis is always on linking theoretical ideas and concepts to practical work and experiments and recognising that physics is fundamentally a practical subject. Nevertheless, the subject also almost uniquely encourages curiosity and stretches the intellect and imagination due to the abstract, counter-intuitive and ultimately just weird nature of some of the explanations and ideas in the subject, particularly at sixth form level. To assist in learning the department has participated in or organised a wide range of events outside the classroom. On site these have included an annual planetarium visit, a liquid nitrogen show, an Einstein character talk, hosting the Institute of Physics Schools Lecture Tour and a visit from the Dorset Astronomy Society. We have also visited the Science Museum and try to annually attend the Particle Physics Master Class at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratories. We also regularly enter the most able students for the Institute of Physics sponsored Physics Olympiad, AS Challenge and GCSE challenge.
Whilst helping all to develop the highest academic standards and achievements the department encourages students of all abilities to engage in and enjoy the study of physics whatever their level of study. The Year 9 pupil will receive a stimulating introduction to physics based on a practical and key skills approach, while the GCSE pupil can study physics as a separate science or part of a combined science course and the A-level student can study a subject in greater depth that links into a wide range of courses offered by universities and that is nationally a very desirable A or AS level to hold.
At both A level and GCSE we follow the AQA syllabus and practical skills are assessed throughout the course and also by specific Investigative Skills Assignments with associated written exams. There is also a strong emphasis in both specifications on ‘How Science Works’ and the application of knowledge to novel situations and how to make observations and measurements and then analyse and evaluate results.
The GCSE syllabus will change from September 2011 onwards but at present we offer separate GCSE Physics to the top two groups in years 10 and 11 and then GCSE Core Science and Additional Science to the other teaching groups. Both routes are recognised as acceptable preparation for further study of the subject. A range of topics is included in the current GCSE specification (for current September 2010 year 10 and 11 pupils):
a) In Core Science the topics studied are waves, radiation and energy with assessment by both multiple choice and written answer papers. b) Additional Science physics includes nuclear physics, electricity and mechanics. c) The separate GCSE Physics course also includes astrophysics, optics, stability, moments, electromagnetism, circular motion, sound and ultrasound.
Over the last decade, Physics has been the most popular science to study further in the sixth-form. A good mathematical grounding and understanding is important for those moving to this level. Studying mathematics at AS or A2 level is not essential and a large proportion of our sixth formers successfully study physics without doing so. To assist sixth form study all students are automatically given access to the Kerboddle on-line learning resource that is run by the AQA approved publisher Nelson Thorne. For the AQA A syllabus papers 3 and 6 are Investigative Skills Assignments and the syllabus topics covered include:
a) AS paper 1 covers particle and quantum physics and electricity b) AS paper 2 covers wave phenomena, optics, materials and mechanics c) A2 paper 4 covers further mechanics, electromagnetism, electric fields and gravity. d) A2 paper 5 covers thermal physics, radioactivity and an optional topic. Our choice for the latter covers quantum physics, special relativity and discovery of the electron.
The department currently consists of two full time members of staff and one part timer all of whom are subject specialists. We also have a dedicated technician and prep room and one small and two large fully equipped laboratories.